ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Occurrence of F-Specific RNA Coliphages
and Microbial Indicators in Municipal Lake Water
Joanna Śliwa-Dominiak1, Beata Tokarz-Deptuła2, Wiesław Deptuła1
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1Department of Microbiology,
2Department of Immunology,
Faculty of Biology, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3c, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2014;23(2):467-473
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Recent studies have shown the increasing interest of F-specific RNA bacteriophages (FRNAPH) genotyping
to identify major sources of faecal contamination in waters. The aim of the study was to evaluate the
presence and relevance of FRNAPH genotyping in lake water. A comparison between the levels of all
FRNAPH and each genogroup and that of the standard indicators of faecal pollution (total coliforms – TC and
faecal (thermotolerant) coliforms – FC) was performed. Two faecal indicators were detected in lake water:
total coliforms (TC) and faecal coliforms (FC). The standardized method was used to quantify these indicators
and bacterial concentrations were expressed in the most probable number per 100 ml of water (MPN/10
ml). FRNAPH were determined by the single agar layer (SAL) method using the host strain Escherichia coli
Famp (ATCC 700891) in accordance with U.S. EPA Methods 1602. To distinguished between RNA and DNA
phages, each FRNAPH isolate was subjected to RNAse sensitivity. All FRNAPH isolates were subjected to
the four SYBR Green-based real time PCRs to determine genogroups.